Sri Lanka closes export industrial zones over coronavirus

ECONOMYNEXT- Sri Lanka has closed export industrial zones and sent workers home as part of efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic, the island’s investment promotions agency said.

“All individuals transported were dropped off at their respective police stations where the police will then take over in transporting them to their homes,” Board of Investment Executive Director D N M Laurence said in a statement.

The decision comes as the number of individuals infected with the coronavirus grew to 106 on Friday.

The Board of Investment said 5,000 individuals, including at least 1,500 industrial zone workers had been trapped in the Katunayake BOI zone when the curfew was imposed.

While there had been enough food and health services as well as 80 buses were available to workers, the number of people in the zone grew to 5,000 as residents of neighbouring areas entered the zone.

Investment Promotions Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had arranged for 150 state buses to transport the industrial zone workers home with the support of health services. (Colombo/27Mar/2020)